Immigration News and Updates

suzanne4, RN · May 10, 2007

Physical therapists also are included under Schedule A when it is available, it is not just for nurses. Other types of health care workers have also been included. It is definitely not limited to RNs, it is just that the others can also get the H1-B, but nurses cannot.

RNKay31 · May 10, 2007

Listen to Suzanne, she knows best

detroix · May 10, 2007

you can't help it, there are people who doesn't follow the law.

Aquarian · May 10, 2007

but they won't fast track nurses if they wouldn't need them immediately...
well i guess you haven't experienced this retrogression thingy so you don't know how many of us feel.

What you stated is quite unfair. Don't take it personally. If you will just take the time to read Philippine and International posts since way back, you will realize that Suzanne saved a lot of us Filipinos, and many others, lawyers' fees for the informative and accurate immigration issues she patiently explains even if a lot has been asked over and over again. And this is volunteer work.

Many here will agree that Suzanne deserves an apology here.

detroix · May 10, 2007

sorry for that, i didn't know

suzanne4, RN · May 10, 2007

Thank you for standing up for me and for what you know to be correct!:balloons:

suzanne4, RN · May 10, 2007

you can't help it, there are people who doesn't follow the law.

But that is where you are wrong.

When you see someone bragging that they are working in the US as an RN, and you know that they just came over here a month ago, and on a tourist visa; then you know that it is not legal and you should say something about it.

Or when someone is bragging that they did something that violates what CGFNS has mandated, they should be criticized, not applauded.

This makes everyone look bad, and it definitely does not help anyone. And it also makes it more difficult for each and every one of you. What goes on in your country, is one thing and does not make a difference to us here in the US; but when it will affect care of the patients here, it is going to be everyone's concern here, and it should be.

lawrence01 · May 10, 2007

we're brought down by these illegal immigrants, i just hope our section in the CIR won't be excluded, it is really uncertain for them to pass this bill, because there are many oppositions against these undocumented aliens.
i really wonder if I'll harvest what i worked out to be a US nurse. It feels so frustrating after you've gone all through of those hardships. then, the door has been slam shut right on your face.
i think every single nurse who have their visa screen and employer ready feels the same way.
just my 2 cents.

CIR is a total overhaul of the entire US immigration system. It has everything for everyone. If you'll read the Strive Act (this year) and the Senate Version (last year's) there are provisions for nurses. The current CIR also includes provisions for family-based petitions (w/ proposals that non-US born US citizens may not anymore petition their parents and siblings at whatever age, etc..) and employment-based petitions w/c includes increasing the visa numbers for all other working visa categories other than nurses. I say other than nurses because they have a separate provision for nurses (no cap until 2017). The whole EB system is backlogged or retrogressed and not just nurses. They are proposing to increase H1B visas to 115,000 from the current 65,000 because of the demand for foreign I.T. workers. They are increasing visa numbers for all other working visa categories as well to solve their respective backlogs or retrogression.

Another notable proposal is that AOS can now be filed even during retrogression but still have to wait for availability of visas.

CIR is an all-or-none or a blanket reform as one poster here said. If it fails, it's not the end of the world. After it fails, everything will just go back to where how it is usually is done. Separate stand alone legislations for immigration will be introduced left and right and legislated individually and this is where the 'bridge bill' or the recapture bill comes in for nurses. Other immigration reforms to fix other sections concerning them in the immigration system will have to be introduced by other parties individually as it has always been done.

The CIR does not just concern illegals. This particular section of it is just what is the 'hot' issue and what everyone is more concerned about and what the US media wants to report as well but it is not the CIR. It is only part of it, albeit the most impt. issue.

There will be no exclusions. If they do not agree and compromise on what to do w/ illegals then there is simply no CIR. Same as what happened w/ the failed CIR last year. It's all or none. But many actually wants to get over the CIR charade, pass or fail because if it finally fails they can already introduce individual bills (includes the recapture bill or bridge bill for nurses) that will be entertained. All individual or stand-alone immigration bills hasn't been entertained or passed since last year simply because they want it to be part of CIR. If CIR finally fails this year and will not be tackled again until 2009, they will now entertain individual or stand-alone immigration bills just like what is usually done.

detroix · May 10, 2007

But that is where you are wrong.
When you see someone bragging that they are working in the US as an RN, and you know that they just came over here a month ago, and on a tourist visa; then you know that it is not legal and you should say something about it.
Or when someone is bragging that they did something that violates what CGFNS has mandated, they should be criticized, not applauded.
This makes everyone look bad, and it definitely does not help anyone. And it also makes it more difficult for each and every one of you. What goes on in your country, is one thing and does not make a difference to us here in the US; but when it will affect care of the patients here, it is going to be everyone's concern here, and it should be.

k, and you are right...

detroix · May 10, 2007

CIR is a total overhaul of the entire US immigration system. It has everything for everyone. If you'll read the Strive Act (this year) and the Senate Version (last year's) there are provisions for nurses. The current CIR also includes provisions for family-based petitions (w/ proposals that non-US born US citizens may not anymore petition their parents and siblings at whatever age, etc..) and employment-based petitions w/c includes increasing the visa numbers for all other working visa categories other than nurses. I say other than nurses because they have a separate provision for nurses (no cap until 2017). The whole EB system is backlogged or retrogressed and not just nurses. They are proposing to increase H1B visas to 115,000 from the current 65,000 because of the demand for foreign I.T. workers. They are increasing visa numbers for all other working visa categories.
Other notable proposals is that AOS can now be filed even during retrogression but still have to wait for availability of visas.
CIR is an all-or-none or a blanket reform as one poster here said. If it fails, it's not the end of the world. After it fails, everything will just go back to where how it is usually done. Separate stand alone legislations for immigration will be introduced left and right and legislated individually and this is where the 'bridge bill' or the recapture bill comes in for nurses. Other immigration reforms to fix other sections concerning them in the immigration system will have to be introduced by other parties individually as it has always been done.
The CIR does not just concern illegals. This particular section of it is just what is the 'hot' issue and what everyone is more concerned about and what the US media wants to report as well but it is not the CIR. It is only part of it, albeit the most impt. issue.
There will be no exclusions. If they do not agree and compromise on what to do w/ illegals then there is simply no CIR. Same as what happened w/ the failed CIR last year. It's all or none. But many actually wants to get over the CIR charade, pass or fail because if it finally fails they can already introduce individual bills (includes the recapture bill or bridge bill for nurses). All individual or stand-alone immigration bills hasn't been entertained or passed since last year simply because they want it to be part of CIR. If CIR finally fails this year and will not be tackled again until 2009, they will now entertain individual or stand-alone immigration bills just like what is usually done.

thanks for clearing that up sir lawrence...

lawrence01 · May 10, 2007

showdown brewing in senate over immigration reform

wednesday, may 09, 2007

by trish turner

washington- a showdown on comprehensive immigration reform is set for next week as senate majority leader harry reid announced wednesday that in the face of republican filibuster threats he intends to bring to the floor the now unpopular bill that passed the senate last year.

"everyone has known for months the timeframe that we have in the senate to do this. we have two weeks set aside," reid, d-nev., said, adding that he was using the measure merely as a placeholder for a bipartisan bill if one could be reached. reid said he would permit "an open amendment process."

republicans who have been involved in backroom meetings with democrats and white house negotiators skeptical of reid's motives said they see the majority leader's move as a hostile one that could very well torpedo an intense, monthslong effort to design a compromise.

chief republican negotiators sens. arlen specter of pennsylvania, john mccain of arizona, lindsey graham of south carolina and mel martinez of florida sent a letter to reid warning that they would "only support moving forward with legislation that is a product" of the current bipartisan effort.

the bush administration is also interested in a new bill. homeland security secretary michael chertoff and commerce secretary carlos gutierrez began meeting with interested republicans senators months ago at the request of republican conference chairman sen jon kyl of arizona.

click here for full article.

lavalin · May 10, 2007

]

]I know I speak for everyone here when I extend our gratitute and thanks for a great job to Suzanne. Bless this forum convened in goodwill for the benefit of those who serve.

]

]Your presence has been an inspiration to all of us.